Doctors and medical students from AIIMS Delhi staged a massive protest on Monday, condemning the sexual assault and murder of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has called for a nationwide medical strike, demanding justice for the victim.
The strike has led to significant disruptions in hospital services across West Bengal, as junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees continued their protest for the fourth consecutive day. Their primary demands include the removal of the college’s principal, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident, and the establishment of a fast-track court to handle the case.
The deceased, a second-year postgraduate trainee in the chest medicine department, was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College on Friday. Her semi-nude body bore multiple injury marks, and the preliminary autopsy report suggested sexual assault prior to her murder. The incident occurred during her night duty on Thursday, and her father has alleged that she was raped and murdered within the hospital premises.
In response to the growing outcry, the principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, has resigned from his post. “I am getting defamed on social media…The deceased doctor was like my daughter. As a parent, I resign…I don’t like that this should happen to anyone in the future,” Ghosh said in a statement.
Following a meeting with Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Apurva Chandra, FORDA General Secretary Dr. Sarvesh Pandey emphasized that the strike would continue until their demands are met. “We released a press release yesterday mentioning our demands that the Principal of RG Kar Medical College should be removed immediately, a CBI inquiry, fast-track court, and the formation of a committee for the Central Protection Act. We will continue our strike until we get a written assurance that our demands will be fulfilled,” Dr. Pandey stated. He also noted that while emergency services would remain operational, elective surgeries and other routine medical services would be impacted by the strike.
Kolkata Police have arrested a suspect, identified as Sanjay Roy, in connection with the case. Roy, an outsider who had access to several hospital departments due to his role as a civic volunteer in the police welfare board, was apprehended after his activities raised suspicions.
